Garment Management System and Method

ABSTRACT

A garment management system includes at least one elastic strap and at least one fastening means. The garment management system may be used to attach one garment to another to retain garments in a position while those garments are being worn by a person. Exemplary fastening means include clips and clamps. The elastic strap may be of an adjustable length to accommodate users of various heights and different configurations of garments. In use, the garment management system permits a user to move relatively freely without the risk of having garments slip off or move out of preferred positions.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a non-provisional application of and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 on pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/293,006, filed on Dec. 22, 2022, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

the present disclosure relates to management of garments, and more particularly, to a system and method for managing and retaining garments in a preferred position on the wearer's body.

BACKGROUND

More and more frequently, garments (including undergarments) are made from elastic materials such as Lycra® or Spandex. These materials are advantageous and preferable because they can expand or contract to accommodate the shape, size and contours of a particular wearer's body and achieve a comfortable fit that is not dependent on the wearer's particular size. In the case of light garments and undergarments, such garments usually include a less-elastic band or region that is intended to secure the garment in a position on the wearer's body. This band or region may be in the form of a cuff on a sleeve or legging, or in the form of an integral waistband or “belt” in the case of pants.

While such bands are helpful to an extent, they are often not inelastic enough to survive normal movements by the wearer over time. As such, such garments become dislodged from their preferred position, thus causing discomfort for the wearer and/or potential embarrassment and/or exposure to weather and the elements (such as if the garment is sufficiently dislodged to reveal skin of the wearer, for example). Due to the nature of undergarments (that they are worn under an outer layer of clothing), traditional garment management solutions such as suspenders and belts are not reasonable as such solutions are bulky and cumbersome (and in the case of suspenders, require that the suspender strap go over and be supported by the wearer's shoulder). Such outer-worn belts and suspenders may also detract from the aesthetic appears of the wearer's outfit.

Accordingly, there exists a need for a garment management system and method that provide the wearer with sufficient retention of garments in a preferred position without also being visible to the public and otherwise obtrusive and uncomfortable to the wearer.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In view of foregoing disadvantage inherent in the prior art, the general purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a garment management system and method, to include all the advantages of the prior art, and overcome the drawbacks inherent therein.

In light of the above objects, in one aspect of the present disclosure, a garment management system is provided. In an embodiment, a garment management system includes at least one strap of elastic material and at least one fastening means. An exemplary fastening means may be a clip or clips disposed at an end or (different) ends of the strap. The strap may be adjustable in length by way of a slider or a buckle, for example. The garment management system may attach to a plurality of a wearer's garments to keep those garments in a preferred position.

In another embodiment, a garment management method is provided. the method includes using at least one strap of elastic material that includes at least one fastening means to secure one garment to another and keep said secured garments in a selected position while the user is wearing the garments.

These together with other aspects of the present disclosure, along with the various features of novelty that characterize the present disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and form a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the present disclosure, its operating advantages, and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages and features of the present disclosure will become better understood with reference to the detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an assembled garment management system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of a garment management system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, and

FIG. 3 illustrates another exploded view of a garment management system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

The best mode for carrying out the present disclosure is presented in terms of its preferred embodiments, herein depicted in the accompanying figures. The preferred embodiments described herein details for illustrative purposes are subject to many variations. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure.

In view of the foregoing disadvantages of the prior art, an improved garment management system and method configured to include all the advantages of the prior art and to overcome the drawbacks inherent therein are provided. It is an object of the present disclosure to provide for a versatile and discrete system and method to manage the placement and retention of a wearer's garments. It is further an object of the present disclosure to provide a garment management system that is compact, lightweight, and easy to use, and a method that is easy to perform.

In an embodiment as shown in FIG. 1 , the garment management system 100 comprises at least one elastic strap 10, said strap having a first end 11 and a second end 12, and a fastening means 20. In an embodiment, the fastening means 20 comprises clips 21 and 22 disposed proximately to the first end 11 and the second end 12 of the strap 10. In another embodiment, the strap comprises a continuous loop of fabric. The strap may comprise an adjustment mechanism 30 to configure the strap into a selected length. In an embodiment, the adjustment mechanism 30 comprises one of a slider, a buckle, and a tension lock. In an embodiment, clips 21 and 22 may be disposed a sufficient distance form one another to allow effective operation of the garment management system 100, such as to attach to a first garment and a second garment that is disposed a significant distance away from the first garment.

In an embodiment, the strap length many be manufactured in various sizes and lengths to accommodate wearers of various body sizes and heights. In another embodiment, the adjustment mechanism of the strap facilitates the system accommodating wearers of various body sizes and heights.

In an embodiment, the fastening means is removably attached to the strap. In another embodiment the fastening means is permanently attached to the strap and may be integral to the strap. In an embodiment where the fastening means is removably attached to the strap, such removable attachment may be accomplished by having the fastening means attach to the strap by way of an additional clip, as shown in an exemplary form in FIG. 2 .

As shown in FIG. 2 , fastening means 20 comprises a pair of jaws 25 (or clamps or plates) that are hingably attached to one another. A portion of first plate 25 a may be moved toward or away form second plate 25 b, with the first plate 25 a remaining otherwise attached to second plate 25 b by way of a hinge 26. Hinge 26 comprises a biasing mechanism such as a spring) to maintain the fastening means in a closed position, i.e., a position where first plate 25 a and second plate 25 b are pressing against one another. Second plate 25 b may also include a flange 25 d that extends away from the first plate 25 a and hinge 26. The flange 25 d preferably comprises an attachment means (shown, in an exemplary embodiment in FIG. 2 as a hook 27) to attach fastening means 20 to a strap 10. In another embodiment, first plate 25 a also comprises a flange 25 c that extends away from the hinge 26 in the same direction as flange 25 d. Flange 25 c and flange 25 d may also be hingably connected, and such hinge may include a biasing mechanism such as a spring to bias flange 25 c and flange 25 d toward a closed position with respect to one another.

In an embodiment, first plate 25 a and second plate 25 b may be compressed together around a portion of a garment of clothing to attach to that garment of clothing. Flanges 25 c and 25 d may be compressed to attach fastening means 20 to the strap 10, for example. Attachment of first plate 25 a and second plate 25 b to the strap 10, and of flange 25 c and flange 25 d, to the strap may be by direct compression upon the elastic material of the strap 10, or, in another embodiment, by compression or contact upon a ring 12 (as such ring is shown in FIG. 1 ) that is disposed at an end or ends of the strap 10. Where fastening means comprises only flange 25 d, such it will be apparent that such flange may comprise a hook for attachment to the ring 12 of the strap, or may comprise a friction element or surface (not shown) for engagement with and attachment to the elastic material of the strap itself.

It will be apparent that the strap will be of sufficient elasticity to permit the user to stretch the strap sufficiently to reach and attach to a garment, but no so elastic that the garment or garments to which a strap attaches are able to stretch and extend the strap on their own.

In use, the wearer may first don the garments or clothes that he/she wishes to have retained by the garment management system. The wearer may then position the garments or clothes on the body as preferred by the wearer. Thereafter, the wearer may employ the garment management system to retain the garments or clothes in that preferred position. Specifically, the wearer may attach the garment management system to the garments or clothes that he/she wishes to keep in a particular position.

To attach the garment management system to garments, the user attaches the strap to the selected garments by attaching the straps on to the garments via the fastening means. It will be apparent that the strap length may be adjusted before attaching the strap to garments or after the strap is attached to garments. Once the strap is attached to garments and the strap length is adjusted to the wearer's preference, the garment management system will keep the garments to which it is attached in place. For example, a wearer may attach the upward end of a strap to an undergarment (such as a brassiere) and the lower end to another undergarment (such as a girdle). In such an embodiment, the garment management system will prohibit the girdle becoming displaced (such as sliding down the wearer's midsection, for example). If the wearer prefers more stability between garments, he or she may use additional straps to secure the same garments in a position.

In another embodiment, a garment management method is provided. The method comprises providing at least one strap of elastic material, said strap comprising at least one fastening means. The method further comprises attaching the at least one strap to at least one item (such as a garment of clothing) and preferably, also attaching the at least one strap to another item (such as another garment of clothing). The method further comprises securing and retaining the items (such as garments of clothing) in a position while the user is using the items (such as wearing the garments).

The garments management system and method disclosed herein may be used to with variety of combinations of garments to secure such a garment to another, such as with shorts, pants, dresses, skirts, and towels. The system is particularly effective in either securing undergarments, or using undergarments to secure the wearer's other garments. As used herein, undergarments may include drawers, boxers, undershorts, briefs, shorts, bikini, bra, corset, underpants, lingerie, underthings, tap pants, unmentionables, knickers, corselets, or underdrawers.

The garment management system and method thereby allow the wearer to move freely and worry that his or her garments are going to become dislodged from a preferred position. The garment management system and method also reduce or eliminate the need to find private quarters to readjust one's garments during the day. The garment management system and method may also be used to keep the user warm in outdoor or cold conditions as the system and method reduce the possibility of garments moving and inadvertently exposing a user's skin to the elements.

The garment management system is configured to be utilized and worn (and method practiced) under an outer layer of clothing (such as under shirts and pants, for example). This can be accomplished by having the straps be of a relatively thin material and by having the clasps or other fastening means be of a substantially flat physical profile. Furthermore, the garment management system and method disclosed herein does not require external support (as opposed to, for example, the requirement to use a wearer's shoulders in the case of suspenders) to function as intended. Additionally in the case of a brassiere, the garment management system may be used to bring the straps of the brassiere closer to one another in the event the wearer prefers to expose more of the shoulders and back.

The garment management system and method also finds utility in the case of children, in that they may assist the child in retaining clothes so that they are not lost (or do not inadvertently come off in the course of play, for example), as well as in hospital settings, as the garment management system and method may facilitate keeping the clothes, bedclothes, or gown of a patient in place, particularly when the patient is injured, incapacitated, and/or otherwise immobile.

The garment management system and method disclosed herein may also be used to secure comforters, blankets, duvets or bed sheets on a bed (or pillow cases on a bed or on a pillow), and/or hospital gowns, table cloths, and curtains in a selected position or orientation. It will also be apparent that the system and method have sufficient versatility to retain, hold, and/or secure blazer jackets, jogging pants, bibs, shirts, tank-tops, hats, jackets, hoodies, child and adult diapers. The system and method may also secure other non-garment items in place, such as towels (at the pool or beach for example), shower curtains, grill covers, air conditioner covers, tarps, tent covers. Of course, the system and method may also secure outdoor clothing such as scarves, shawls, gloves, mittens, coats and vests, as well as bath robes and oven gloves an example of the widespread utility of the system.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present disclosure have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present disclosure to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The exemplary embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present disclosure and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the disclosure and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A garment management system, the system comprising at least one strap of elastic material, said at least one strap having a first end and a second end, and at least one fastening means, said at least one fastening means removably attachable to said at least one strap, and said at least one fastening means capable of secure attachment to another item, wherein said at least one strap may secure one item to another item when at least one fastening means is attached to a first end of said strap and to an item and at least one fastening means is attached to a second end of said strap and to another item.
 2. The at least one strap of claim 1, wherein said strap is adjustable in length.
 3. The at least one fastening means of claim 1, wherein said fastening means comprises one of a hook, a clamp, a clasp, a plurality of jaws, a plurality of plates, a plurality of closeable flanges, and a friction element.
 4. The at least one fastening means of claim 3, wherein said fastening means is biased in a closed position.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one strap further comprises a ring and said at least one fastening mechanism comprises a hook, wherein said hook attaches to said ring.
 6. A garment management method, said method comprising: (1) providing at least one strap of elastic material, said strap comprising at least one fastening means, (2) attaching the at least one strap to at least one item and attaching the at least one strap to another item, and (3) securing and retaining the items in a position while a user is using the items.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein said at least one item comprises a clothing garment.
 8. The at least one strap of claim 6, wherein said strap is adjustable in length.
 9. The at least one fastening means of claim 6, wherein said fastening means comprises one of a hook, a clamp, a clasp, a plurality of jaws, a plurality of plates, a plurality of closeable flanges, and a friction element.
 10. The at least one fastening means of claim 9, wherein said fastening means is biased in a closed position.
 11. The method of claim 6, wherein said at least one strap further comprises a ring and said at least one fastening mechanism comprises a hook, wherein said hook attaches to said ring. 